Representatives of the Party, State, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations co-chair the conference

The conference welcomed Mr. Tran Thanh Man - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Mr. Tran Hong Ha - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Mr. Le Truong Luu - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and nearly 500 delegates representing leaders of central agencies and ministries, Thua Thien Hue province, international guests, dignitaries representing more than 40 faith-based organizations in the country.

Recognizing the important role of religions in environmental protection and climate change responses, in 2015, the Standing Committee of VFF Central Committee, MONRE and 40 faith-based organizations throughout the country signed the Coordination Program to promote the role of faith-based organizations in environmental protection and climate change responses (period 2015-2020), including 5 contents, 7 goals and solutions.

As a result of 4 years of implementation, religions have built many models (about 1,014 models) that were suitable to the specific conditions of each locality and each religion, created practical impacts, contributed to making considerable changes in awareness, and changed attitudes, behaviors and habits of dignitaries, religious staff, monks, priests, religious followers and community members in environmental protection and climate change responses.

Thua Thien Hue Buddhists exchanged skills in emergency response and climate change responses

At the conference, religious delegates shared experiences and good practices with examples in environmental protection and climate change responses to replicate, and at the same time, enhanced the coordination; praised and commended remarkable organizations and individuals in this movement.

Within the 2 days, in addition to the 3 main sessions at the conference, there were also sideline activities such as facilities and businesses to introduce environmentally friendly products, camping programs on waste classification communication, experience sharing in disaster reliefs, charitable medical examination and treatment, climate change training for 300 monks and nuns of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue city, and environment cleaning participation in response to the Green Sunday movement...

Story, photos: Hoai Thuong